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Friday, June 30, 2017

Poetry Friday -- My Little Town

Home Town
by William Stafford

Peace on my little town, a speck in the safe,
comforting, impersonal immensity of {12 miles from} Kansas.
Benevolence like a gentle haze on its courthouse
(the model of Greek pillars to me)
on its quiet little bombshell of a library,
on its continuous, hidden, efficient sewer system.

I'll miss going home this summer...but first-home will just have to wait there in the midst of the wheat fields and under the blue, blue sky (my photo doesn't do the sky justice) while I fully settle back into now-home and give myself these weeks devoid of commitments so I can unravel and relax into ME.

**Edited to add, read this article: The Busy Trap. Wisdom: "...the best investment of my limited time on earth was to spend it with people I love." and "Life is too short to be busy."

"...sleepy days under the world-champion sky." It's been awhile since we've taken a trip to my husband's home in KS, but you're right the picture does not do justice to that blue, blue sky. It's exquisite, a beauty all its own. Enjoy unraveling and relaxing!

Love that last, Mary Lee: "Life is too short to be busy." Our annual trip to my hometown is late Aug., for the eclipse. I am lucky that my daughter loves to go there too though it really has never been her hometown. Stafford is a favorite, happy you found such a poem that seems just for you: "sun-friended" is just right.

I love the idea that "unravelling" is a positive thing. I'm doing some of that too (although I do wish Daisy hadn't shown me that Squares game to download on my phone. I'm beginning to understand my son's obsessions.) This is a "nosy, incredible, delicious" poem and I'm so glad to make its acquaintance. I too noticed the "quiet little bombshell of a library."

I'm finding some success in trying to think/say "I want to xyz" instead of "I have to xyz." Helps me sort out the busy options more honestly!

Stafford's poem is gorgeous. I'm going to be thinking about that "haze-blessed, sun-friended...world champion sky" all day. Wishing you peace as you "unravel and relax into" yourself, Mary Lee. Thank you for the link to the article, too.

Oh, my heart did a twitch for you because while this is hard for many reasons you are going to do what's best and uncover, relax and be you. Enjoy this time, reflect and capture some memories you might think about during this time.

I'm sad you won't be coming to Colorado this year-- but love that you are enjoying your summer (and the sky really is big in Colorado- I remember trying to explain the difference to a friend in NH one time). I'm going to read the article, as soon as I finish grading papers for my ELA class. Crazy, busy summer here and I'm hating it!

I'm really happy to see you are taking some time for yourself. I never understood that self-care was a thing until well into adulthood. Sorry you won't make it "home". The poem is beautiful and wistful. The "bombshell library" made me laugh out loud in it's perfect description of silence amid the result of so much information smashed together. Be well, friend. We are all so much better off when you are and share it.

Mary Lee, many peaceful days I wish you "while you fully settle back into now." What a delicious thought! Being devoid of commitments to unravel and relax into ME sounds like sound advice. Enjoy the time.

I liked this rambling, slowing down poem about Kansas, and the article you linked us to also Mary Lee– here here for more unstructured time!I've often found taking in a vast expanse of midwestern fields very fulfilling and relaxing, thanks!

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About Us

Franki and Mary Lee are both teachers, and have been for more than 20 years.

Franki is a fifth grade teacher. She is the author of Beyond Leveled Books (Stenhouse), Still Learning to Read (Stenhouse), Day-to-Day Assessment in the Reading Workshop (Scholastic) and The Joy of Planning (Choice Literacy). She is also a regular contributor to Choice Literacy.

Mary Lee is a fifth grade teacher. She is the author of Reconsidering Read-Aloud (Stenhouse) and has poems in the Poetry Friday Anthology, the Poetry Friday Anthology for Middle School, the Poetry Friday Anthology for Science, the Poetry Friday Anthology for Celebrations (Pomelo Books), Dear Tomato: An International Crop of Food and Agriculture Poems, National Geographic Books of Nature Poems, and The Best of Today's Little Ditty (2014-15 and 2016).